Laura Rodríguez Presa

‘Dehumanizing’: Inside the Broadview ICE facility where immigrants sleep on cold concrete An investigation by the Chicago Tribune found that immigration detainees have been held for days at the processing center in west suburban Broadview.

In Illinois, immigrant rights advocates are urging Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to investigate the Broadview ICE facility’s ownership structure and contractual agreements with federal immigration authorities.

‘Dehumanizing’: Inside the Broadview ICE facility where immigrants sleep on cold concrete An investigation by the Chicago Tribune found that immigration detainees have been held for days at the processing center in west suburban Broadview.

My latest: Immigrants held for days without beds or showers at Broadview processing center despite a 12-hour limit.

Data show the federal agency has routinely violated ICE’s internal guidelines, sometimes keeping people there for up to 6 days.

W/ Joe Mahr

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/03/d...

Chicago father becomes face of lawsuit against ICE as judge hears challenge to warrantless arrests ICE agents arrested Abel Orozco, 47, outside his home in suburban Lyons without a federal warrant. Now, nearly six months later, he is still detained.

"We are not just fighting for him anymore. We're fighting for everyone who was taken like this," said Eduardo Orozco, son of NIJC Client Abel Orozco, who is fighting his warrantless arrest in our lawsuit.

📰 🖊️ @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social @chicagotribune.com: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/14/c...

You may have seen reports about the release of Venezuelans the Trump administration sent to a Salvadoran prison and called "the worst of the worst."
But when we set out to learn more about them, that's not what we found. 🧵

Little Village buildings spray-painted with swastikas, pro-ICE statement Three buildings in the 2700 block of West Cermak Road and one in the 2500 block were vandalized late Friday night, around midnight, CPD says.

Swastikas were spray-painted on several buildings in Little Village over the weekend, and one building was tagged a second time with a pro-immigration enforcement statement, community members said.

Chicago-area children get deportation letters: Leave or ‘the federal government will find you’ Immigration advocates warn that a growing number of children are now receiving letters from DHS ending their humanitarian parole.

At least 12 children in the Waukegan area — all unaccompanied minors from Mexico — received sudden deportation letters from the Department of Homeland Security last month, according to advocates.

Chicago-area children get deportation letters: Leave or ‘the federal government will find you’ Immigration advocates warn that a growing number of children are now receiving letters from DHS ending their humanitarian parole.

My latest: Chicago-area children get deportation letters: Leave or ‘the federal government will find you’

Immigration advocates warn that a growing number of unaccompanied minors are now receiving letters from DHS ending their humanitarian parole.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/20/t...

Chicago father becomes face of lawsuit against ICE as judge hears challenge to warrantless arrests ICE agents arrested Abel Orozco, 47, outside his home in suburban Lyons without a federal warrant. Now, nearly six months later, he is still detained.

A federal judge’s upcoming decision could significantly influence how ICE conducts operations in the Chicago area moving forward.

Plaintiffs argue that ICE agents violated the constitutional rights of at least 25 people, including one U.S. citizen.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/14/c...

Family left broken after mother allegedly killed her 4-year-old son in Logan Square during an emotional collapse: ‘I know she loved him’ Wendy Tolbert deeply loved her three children and dedicated her life to them, with dreams for their future, said her ex-husband, Dion Wallace, the father of the children.

I spoke w/ the father of the 4-year-old boy who was killed by his mother.

This is a heartbreaking story, not just of loss, but of the deep love a mother had for her children —a love that muy have been overwhelmed by untreated mental health struggles.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/10/f...

ICE took her mother. Now, a 6-year-old is left without a guardian or legal path back to reunite in Honduras. On June 4, her mother was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside an office in downtown Chicago during what was supposed to be a routine check-in.

ICE took her mother in Chicago. Now a 6-year-old is left without a guardian or a legal path to reunite in Honduras.

A story about the children left behind by deportations—and the lack of infrastructure to care for them in the U.S or for reunification.

My latest w/ @nellsalzman.bsky.social

ICE took her mother. Now, a 6-year-old is left without a guardian or legal path back to reunite in Honduras. On June 4, her mother was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside an office in downtown Chicago during what was supposed to be a routine check-in.

6-year-old Gaby's mom was detained by ICE on June 4 outside an ICE office in downtown Chicago.

The young girl's mom missed her daughter's graduation.

w / @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social photos / Antonio Perez

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/22/i...

ICE took her mother. Now, a 6-year-old is left without a guardian or legal path back to reunite in Honduras. On June 4, her mother was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside an office in downtown Chicago during what was supposed to be a routine check-in.

ICE took her mother. Now, a 6-year-old is left without a guardian or legal path back to reunite in Honduras. Story of the times from @nellsalzman.bsky.social @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/22/i...

ICE field director defends agents after ramped-up enforcement, arrests of US citizens at Chicago immigration court protest The head of Chicago’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office Tuesday defended the conduct and decorum of federal agents who have ramped up arrests of undocumented immigrants.

ICE detained three U.S. citizens protesting outside a Chicago immigration court Monday.

DHS says one protester assaulted an officer. Witnesses say agents made arrests without agents identifying themselves.

‘They’re kidnapping our people.’

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/18/i...

The group aimed to conduct an unannounced visit to check on the conditions of the detainees held there. 

A masked agent spoke to them through the gates wearing a face mask, black shades and a White Sox hat. He refused to identify himself to members of U.S Congress.

‘What are they hiding?’: Illinois Democrats denied entry into ICE processing center in visit Wednesday The group’s visit is the latest effort by Democrats to push back against President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration tactics.

My latest: ‘What are they hiding?’: Illinois Democrats denied entry into ICE processing center in visit Wednesday

Concerns about the conditions in which immigrants are held—sometimes for more than a day—have raised questions about the facility.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/18/i...

ICE detained three U.S. citizens protesting outside a Chicago immigration court Monday.

DHS says one protester assaulted an officer. Witnesses say agents made arrests without identifying themselves.

‘They’re kidnapping our people,’ a witness told me.

Story: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/18/i...

‘Resist in this moment’: With Trump protests roiling Los Angeles, Chicago leaders continue tough stance With protests putting a spotlight on unrest in Los Angeles and more agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly heading to Chicago, the city’s leaders are not flinching when it comes…

Aggressive and targeted ICE raids in workplaces will begin this week in Chicago, according to Johnson’s Chief of Staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas.

“They plan to do raids as we saw in Los Angeles…” she said.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/11/c...

Members of Ballet Folklorico de Chicago perform above the dugout before a White Sox-Royals game on Mexican Heritage Night at Rate Field on June 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

After performing the national anthem, Angelina Victoria throws out the ceremonial first pitch for a White Sox-Royals game on Mexican Heritage Night at Rate Field on June 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Churros decorated in White Sox colors are handed out in a parking lot before a White Sox-Royals game on Mexican Heritage Night at Rate Field on June 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Fans watch Eskandalozza Banda Viento perform before a White Sox-Royals game on Mexican Heritage Night at Rate Field on June 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

There are few things more American than baseball.

But at the White Sox’s Mexican Heritage Night at Rate Field, it was something more layered, more defiant and deeply moving.

📝 @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social
📷 @jkimpictures.bsky.social

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/07/p...

Editorial: MAGA morphs into Make America Cruel Again We urge those in your administration to negotiate with local officials, to treat everyone with dignity and respect, and to understand, for the love of God, that our children are watching and listen…

From the Editorial Board:

This is the danger of a fundamentally performative president, a leader for whom the political benefits of calling in the National Guard outranks the far greater risks, which is that such a decision destabilizes a city and forces everyone into ever more extreme positions.

Some Americans Have Already Been Caught in Trump’s Immigration Dragnet. More Will Be. Federal immigration authorities have a history of wrongfully detaining U.S. citizens. Advocates warn that the Trump administration’s immigration policies mean that more citizens will get caught up in…

While ICE agents can note in their database if someone they’ve investigated turns out to be a citizen, they are not required to do so.

As a result, records are often wrong and left uncorrected even after agents have been told of a mistake.

(Published March 2025)

Members of Ballet Folklorico de Chicago perform above the dugout before a White Sox-Royals game on Mexican Heritage Night at Rate Field on June 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Churros decorated in White Sox colors are handed out in a parking lot before a White Sox-Royals game on Mexican Heritage Night at Rate Field on June 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

After performing the national anthem, Angelina Victoria throws out the ceremonial first pitch for a White Sox-Royals game on Mexican Heritage Night at Rate Field on June 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Fans watch Eskandalozza Banda Viento perform before a White Sox-Royals game on Mexican Heritage Night at Rate Field on June 6, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

There are few things more American than baseball.

But at the White Sox’s Mexican Heritage Night at Rate Field, it was something more layered, more defiant and deeply moving.

📝 @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social
📷 @jkimpictures.bsky.social

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/07/p...

@lauranrodriguez.bsky.social Thank you for your moving article on Wsox Mexican Day. I’m neither Mexican or a Sox fan, but grateful for your moving words. Also nice to see something good happen in that stadium too.

A fantastic column by @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social. I don’t think the White Sox realize how easily they could capture so many ready-made fans in this city with a little love (and winning) and neighborhood support/investment.

Column: Pride and community at Sox Mexican Heritage Night game amid immigration crackdowns Heightened immigration tensions in the city’s Mexican community did not stop the proud masses from showing up to Friday’s Mexican Heritage Night.

The crowd at Mexican Heritage Night at Rate Field were all there to watch baseball and to celebrate their culture despite the newfound fear sparked by immigration crackdowns in the city of Chicago and its surroundings.

Column: Pride and community at Sox Mexican Heritage Night game amid immigration crackdowns Heightened immigration tensions in the city’s Mexican community did not stop the proud masses from showing up to Friday’s Mexican Heritage Night.

At Sox Mexican heritage night game, pride and community despite immigration crackdowns in Chicago and across the country.

An unspoken night of resilience for many.

Read my latest column.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/07/p...

Immigrant advocates, elected officials call for release of Chicago mother detained by ICE She was one of an estimated 20 people were rounded up during surprise check-ins at the ICE Intensive Supervision Appearance Program offices in Chicago.

My latest: A Honduran mother and about 20 others arrested in Chicago were still at the ICE processing center in Broadview Friday AM. They had been sleeping on the floor and sitting around on the few chairs available, she told her lawyers.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/06/i...

Supreme Court unanimously blocks Mexico’s lawsuit against U.S. gunmakers Mexico claims U.S. firearms manufacturers know their guns are trafficked into the country and intentionally target the Mexican market, including drug cartels.

Breaking news: The Supreme Court unanimously blocked the Mexican government from proceeding with an unusual lawsuit that sought to hold major U.S. firearms manufacturers accountable for gun violence in that country.

UPDATE: More than 20 immigrants were detained yesterday, according to advocates working with some of the affected families.

An ICE spokesperson said that “those arrested had executable final orders of removal by an immigration judge and had not complied with that order.”

Local officials, protesters clash with ICE outside office over detentions in growing escalation over Trump’s immigration tactics In another sign of escalating tension over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, community organizers, protesters and several Chicago aldermen clashed with federal agents Wednesday.

In another sign of escalating tension over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, community organizers, protesters and several Chicago aldermen clashed with federal agents Wednesday as they detained immigrants outside a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement office on the Near South Side.

Gladis Chavez Pineda has been in the country for over 10 yrs, actively seeking asylum. She was a community organizer with OCAD & has no criminal record, according to her colleagues.

Advocates fear that some will not show up for their check-ins, which also puts them en route to deportation.